Dr. Tim Kremchek was amazed Thursday when he got into Sean Casey's left shoulder with an arthroscope.

        “I was shocked that he was able to play as well as he did,” Kremchek said of the Reds' first baseman. “There's no question why his power and his stroke were off.”

        Casey was thought to have a slight tear in a muscle in the rotation cuff group. It turned out that he had a torn labrum, a rotator cuff tear and inflammation of the bursa. Kremchek repaired all of the above arthroscopically.

        Casey should be able to move the shoulder today, but he faces three months of rehab. He could resume baseball activities in four months, giving Casey one month to get ready for spring training.

        Casey's shoulder has bothered him since early this season. Cortisone shots and rest helped some - he was on the disabled list from July 23 to Aug. 9 - but the injury continued to flare up.

        “He toughed it out pretty good,” Kremchek said. “He wanted to play because the team was in the race. He kept aggravating it.”

        Casey had three MRIs, but none showed the extent of the damage. But it was obvious from his play that Casey was hurting.

        “His swing wasn't there,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

        Casey was hitting .261, 50 points below his career average, when he shut it down Monday. Opposing teams pounded Casey with inside fastballs.

        “Once they find a way to get you out, they stick with it until you hit,” Boone said.

Rijo to start final game at Cinergy Reds greats will attend Cinergy closing Reds 15, Cubs 12 Reds Box, Runs Casey's bum shoulder worse than diagnosed Reds Notebook: Kearns hopes to return Angels tie A's atop AL West Rangers 7, Mariners 3 Padres 3, Giants 2 Rockies 7, Dodgers 1 Astros 6, Cardinals 3

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